Uganda is another interesting destination where travelers can engage in farm trips. These trips showcase Uganda’s thriving agriculture sector.
Agriculture is one of the key contributors to Uganda’s economy since it employs more than 70 % of the country’s population and is also considered to be its backbone. In 2018, the government of Uganda, under the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities, launched the agrotourism program.
This kind of tourism is also aimed at showcasing the agriculture of Uganda to the world. During the safari, travelers visit several plantations, animal farms, subsistence farms, and many others.
What is the impact of agro-tourism on the local communities of Uganda?
Agriculture impacts a lot to the economy of Uganda and how the government of Uganda introduced agro-tourism, has impacted the social and economic status of the country. Some of these impacts of agro-tourism on the local economy include;
Source of employment opportunities for the people living around the farms since they act as guides where they earn income which improves the standards of living.
Generation of government revenues through taxes that are put on the several agro-tourism and this improves the status of the country through helping in the development of the infrastructure like roads, hospitals, and markets.
Creates awareness in the world of how Uganda communities produce several crops that are usually in demand in the world market.
Creates direct market to the locally harvested products on the different agro-tourism destinations visited like fruits.
It provides the opportunity for knowledge sharing of the different products grown on the different farms. This helps to improve the product quality and improve on the harvests.
Improves environmental conservation since some farms practice agroforestry that impacts a lot to the environment.
Where to engage in the farm trips in Uganda?
On a Uganda farm trip, there are several destinations that travelers can engage in for the safari and some of these include;
Kakira Sugar Estate.
This sugar cane estate is situated in eastern Uganda in Uganda’s adventure city Jinja. It is one of the largest sugar plantations in East Africa which produces sugarcane on a large scale.
While on the farm trip to his sugar plantation, travelers engage in seeing how the sugar cane is planted, cared for, and harvested up to the processing stage. This estate is about 80 kilometers away from Kampala and travelers take about 2 to 3 hours to reach the estate.
Ndalivanila farm Kibale.
This tropical mixed farm is situated in western Uganda near the volcano craters of the Ndali crater near the Kibale National Park. It is about 1000 arcs of land and the main crop in this farm is vanilla.
It is a privately owned farm that dates in the history of Uganda around 1920 where it was owned and operated by Major Price Trevor. This farm was aimed at the growing of the tea as the main crop.
In 1960, the Kingdom of Tooro engaged in the taking over of this farm where the tea was grown on a large scale. Vanilla was also introduced to the farm which made it more popular.
Travelers visiting this farm can engage in tea harvesting, banana brewing and the making of gin, vanilla harvesting, and many others.
Lwero organic pineapple farm.
This farm is located within in Lwero district in central Uganda and it is popular based on the growing of organic pineapples. On this farm, travelers hunt for the fresh local pineapples that are ready for harvesting.
Travelers also learn how planting is done, taste the fresh pineapples, and have a taste of the products made out of the pineapples.
Most of the harvest pineapples harvested are usually exported to the international markets.
Kaynela farm.
With a tagline of “Feel the nature”, the farm is located within central Uganda in the Kayunga district where the farm focuses on the growing of the organic crops and rearing of the local breeds of the domestic aminals. It sits on over 130 acres of land and the major aim of the farm is to produce high-quality products.
While on the farm travelers can have a taste of the organically grown crops, encounter the local breeds of goats, fishing tours, quad biking, movie nights, and many others. During the safari to the farm, travelers can also engage in the stay at the lodge within the farm.
Rubona Stock Farm.
This stock farm is in western Uganda in the Bunyangabu district and it is among the oldest farms in Uganda It was started up in the early 1950’s as a dairy farm. The farm is made up of exotic breeds of cattle like the Friesian cattle that are purposely made for dairy farming.
On this farm travelers encounter several milk products like yogurt, cow ghee, butter, and many others.
Mukono farm.
This farm is popularly known for the interbreeding of the local breeds and the exotic breeds of goats and cows. It is located in central Uganda on Mukono Kyetume Road near the Nyabubare dairy farm.
The farm has breeds of goats and cows from South Africa and the Netherlands that are usually inter-breed to get high-quality products to ensure the best performance.
Kimihingo farm.
One of the old farms in Uganda with the local breeds of cattle that is to say the long-horned cattle is a family-based business. It is under the management and ownership of Emmanuel Kimihingo and is the head of the family.
It is based on the rearing of the local breeds of cattle which are considered to be producing milk of the high-fat content. While on this farm, travelers can engage in activities like animal breeding, milking, grazing, churning, nightlife, and many others.
Igara tea estate.
This is tea estate is located with in the western Uganda and it is among one of the largest tea estates in Uganda that travelers can encounter on their safaris. In this tea estate , travelers encounter several activities that the locals do on the estate like harvesting , collecting them , processing to get out the tea and many others.
During the farm trips around the Igara tea estate , travelers can also visit several other cattle farms that are around the area which have both local and exotic breeds of cattle that travelers encounter during their safaris. In these farms , travelers engage in the activities like milking , grazing , churning , and many others.
How to book for a farm trip in Uganda?
As travelers are planning a farm trip to Uganda , they are supposed to use the licensed and reliable tour operators like Allanblackia safaris. As you check out with the tour operator , you will make out arrangements on what kind farms that you need to visit during the farm trip to Uganda.
How do travelers get to the farms?
Travelers are supposed to use the reliable tour operators who ensure the best transport means that will take around the several farms as listed in the travel package.